Badger/Greenbush-Middle River at Warroad
5 p.m., Tuesday, April 19 

Badger/Greenbush-Middle River made some noise last year by reaching the Class 1A state championship, knocking the ball around the park in an 11-1 quarterfinal win over Rush City, and a 10-0 win over New York Mills in the semifinals before losing in the title game to New Life Academy 9-3.

The Gators (2-2) have gotten out of the gates slowly, but will have a chance to get on track against Warroad (4-1), which started the season with three straight wins.

The Warriors made a run through the Class 2A, Section 8 playoffs last season before falling to Hawley for a chance to play in the section title game behind a lineup that included eighth-graders and freshmen.

The teams split last year’s meetings. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River won the first game 9-5, but Warroad won the second 2-0.

All the young talent is back for the Warriors, including freshman center fielder Tiffani Foster, who led the Warriors with 29 RBI and hit .390 last year. A pair of sophomores, third baseman Hannah Christian (.333, 22 RBI) and shortstop Madison Plovie (.310, 22 RBI) also return, as well as junior pitcher Elise Anderson, who finished 11-7 with a 2.31 ERA in 112 innings in 2015.